Kalanchoe plant named ‘Ficalanhawn’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘Ficalanhawn’, characterized by its compact, upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching plant habit; glossy dark green-colored leaves; uniform, early and freely flowering habit; double dark orange-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FICALANHAWN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Ficalanhawn’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching and freely-flowering Kalanchoe plants with double flowers and attractive leaf flower coloration.

The new Kalanchoe plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands in 2005 of a proprietary selection of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana identified as code number 6317-01 (03), not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Rio’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Kalanchoe plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since 2006 has shown that the unique features of this new Kalanchoe plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Ficalanhawn’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Ficalanhawn’ as a new and distinct Kalanchoe plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and uniformly mounded plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching plant habit.     -   4. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Uniform, early and freely flowering habit.     -   6. Double dark orange-colored flowers.     -   7. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are not as compact as plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have larger leaves than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have lighter orange-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Rio’. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of ‘Rio’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have smaller leaves than plants         of ‘Rio’.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe flower about six days earlier         than plants of ‘Rio’.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and ‘Rio’ differ in flower color         as plants of ‘Rio’ have orange red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Greco’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in De Lier, The Netherlands, plants of the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of ‘Greco’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were more compact than plants of         ‘Greco’.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had smaller leaves than plants of         ‘Greco’.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe flowered earlier than plants of         ‘Greco’.     -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and ‘Greco’ differed in flower         color as plants of ‘Greco’ had lighter orange-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Kalanchoe plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Kalanchoe plant. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Ficalanhawn’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the autumn in 10-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands and under conditions which closely approximate commercial Kalanchoe production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 20° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels ranged from 10,000 lux to 50,000 lux. Plants received long day/short night conditions (more than 14 hours of light) for about three weeks then plants received photoinductive short day/long night conditions (minimum 14 hours darkness) until flowering. Plants were 18 weeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Ficalanhawn’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Kalanchoe             blossfeldiana identified as code number 6317-01 (03), not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Rio’, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About twelve days at             temperatures of 21° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 16 days at             temperatures of 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 21° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; greyish white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright and uniformly             mounded plant habit; freely flowering habit with numerous             cymes positioned above the foliar plane; inverted triangle             with rounded crown; appropriate for 10 to 15-cm containers;             moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height at flowering.—About 15 cm.         -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 18 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about six to             eight lateral branches develop per plant; pinching (removal             of the terminal apex) is not required but will enhance             lateral branch development. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 9 cm to 11 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm to 4 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1 cm to 2 cm.         -   Aspect.—Erect.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 137B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; generally symmetrical; mostly             flat; glossy.         -   Quantity per plant.—About 8 to 13 mature leaves and about 14             to 22 generative leaves.         -   Length.—About 10 cm.         -   Width.—About 8 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate to elliptical.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Slightly crenate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             coriaceous; succulent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully developed leaves, upper surface:             Close to 139A; venation, close to 139A. Developing and fully             developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B; venation,             close to 137B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm to 8 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137A to 137B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Double flowers arranged singly             in axillary cymes; uniform and freely flowering habit with             usually about 25 open flowers and about 25 flower buds per             lateral branch and more than 150 open flowers and flower             buds per plant; flowering continuously for at least seven             weeks.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe             initiate and develop flowers under short day/long night             conditions or during November and December in The             Netherlands; flower initiation and development can also be             induced under artificial short day/long night conditions (at             least 14 hours of darkness).         -   Time to flower.—Under short day/long night photoinductive             conditions, plants begin flowering in about ten to twelve             weeks; actual time to flower is primarily dependent upon             temperature and light intensity.         -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production             longevity; plants maintain good foliage and flower substance             for about 48 days under interior environmental conditions;             individual flowers last about 18 days on the plant; flowers             persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 4.5 mm.             Shape: Initially oblong, becoming tubular ovoid with             development. Color: Close to between 27D and 37D.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: About 18 to 21 in whorls; petals             imbricate. Length: About 6 mm to 8 mm. Width: About 4 mm to             5 mm. Aspect: Flat to partially upright. Shape: Ovate. Apex:             Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close             to 28B. When opening, lower surface: Close to between 37D             and 38D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 28B to 28C;             color becoming closer to 37A with development. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to between 37D and 38D.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Four in a single whorl. Length: About             9 mm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Oblong, pointed. Apex:             Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Upright, rigid.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth; glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 138A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 mm to 6 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Aspect: Erect. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Close to 138A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: None to             about eight per flower. Anther shape: Elliptic, flat. Anther             length: About 0.3 mm. Anther color: Close to 150D. Amount of             pollen: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 12A. Gynoecium:             Pistil number: About four to eight per flower. Pistil             length: About 1 mm. Style length: About 1 mm. Style color:             Close to 138D. Stigma shape: Flat. Stigma color: Close to             8D. Ovary color: Close to 138D.         -   Seeds.—Length: About 0.1 mm. Diameter: About 0.05 mm. Color:             Close to 166C. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from about 16° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been     observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to     Kalanchoes. 

1. A new and distinct Kalanchoe plant named ‘Ficalanhawn’ as illustrated and described. 